1963D-1MM-009

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, I tried one last thng. The same thing I used on the other scope to diffuse the light. This is with overhead, (room turned on) and scope light off

It looks pretty strong!
Dick

coppercoins · Site Admin

I'm really not sure what you are using, but it pixellates the image and hardens the light making details impossible to see. I wish I could help, but not knowing anything about the setup, my hands are tied.

Dick · Expert Member

Hi Chuck! I understand what you are saying, but don't know what to do at the monent. I am using a 10 degree ramp, ( I can also use 15, and 20 degree ramps). I can't control the intensity of the light, on the QZS. I think it is the same scope as yours. I mounted a stand on the "hole" in the head holder, so as to adapt a tripod, and make the whole unit movable with the focus adjustment. I had to increase the friction, due to the added weight. That gets rid of the constant need to re-focus each time I adjust the position of the coin. Shooting thru the eye-piece just doesn't give me a full face shot of the coin, and it just doesn't have the clarity.
Maybe you can figure out what the solution is: I feed the video into a CCTV system, and can't get a sharp picture on the screen, with the alternate ivdeo inputs, and the CC system doesn't have the magnification for close-ups, (not that I could make a snap-shot, even if it did). It is the same thing with the feed going to a 27" TV. Could it be the computer? I am running 1 GB RAM, and have a video card with 64MB RAM. (AGP).If the solution is obvious, fine, but don't lose any sleep. I'll play with it. Got nothing else to do!
I am thinking of going the same route as ED, and /or Ken. I have the cameras to try.
Thanks for your comments, and suggestions, Dick

coppercoins · Site Admin

I don't have lighting on my microscope. I took it off. Lighting on microscopes is never right for coins - at leat I have never seen lighting that was right for coins built into microscopes.

I don't even know what a QZS is. I use a stereo-optical microscope I bought for $300 off ebay and a 150 watt reostat controlled light box with dual fiber optic guides I bought from coinoptics.com. The combination of the two of those and some practice is what does the work for me.

I'm sure you can see that the black areas in your images have speckles of color. Those same speckles are muffling your shot. I don't know how better to say it, your equipment isn't going to work for what you're trying to do. Of course I don't know what you're using, so I cannot comment further, but from appearances your digital capture doesn't have enough resolution to do the job, and your lighting is way too bright.

eagames · Expert Member

Dick,

The grainy look and specks in the dark area that CD mentioned is why I said you should try less digital zoom/gain and more optical zoom/gain/mag.

Think of it as your setup has a certain number of pixels/dots so if it sees a big area the resolution is less, if the optics give you more zoom so it only sees a smaller area of your coin then it sees that small area with the full amount of pixels. It's the only way to get it less grainy.

When you use digital zoom it sort of crops the bigger image to a small one with less resolution then expands it over the screen so the pixels become big and it looks grainy. Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Good afternoon, Chuck!
My scope is a QZS, sterio binocular zoom, ,6-4.7. It has 10X eye pieces, and has a large lens, that screws onto the bottom iof the head. I don't know what it is for, other than to view large coins,. but with the zoom minimum, I just barely get a cent, full face. It obviously is not for macro.
I am looking foe another camera, with macro capability, and as much optical power as I can find. I don't have a camera that is able to do what I need, so I guess it will have to be gotten, on line. That seems to be the best option.
Ed, Hi again, a question: How can I adjust the "digital" zoom?
My setup is a stereo-zoom scope, and a fixed lens camera thru the eye-piece. It makes no difference whether the camera is set for close, or distant, (as far as I am able to ascertain.
I use the full zoom on the scope to see the coins details, MM, or varieties, etc. A 10X lens is not strong enough. If I shot at a lower level of zoom, and then went to a photoshop applicatiion, would it "blow-up" the image enough to see any details? I imagine yes, but it would be a "shot in the dark", hoping there might be something tio see, would it not? I don't understand all I know about this stuff. I also made a printp-out of this thread. I'll get it, one of these days! Thanks for all the suggestions, and advice.
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, What I do is zoom in on the date with the scope, focus,, and then use the camera to get the shot. Then it goes "raw", to Photobucket, and is down loaded from there to the forum. No other manipulation. I don't know where the "grainy" effect is coming from. Am I confusing something?
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

Dick,

How many pixels is your camera?

Does your camera have high/low resolution settings?
(set it to the HIGHEST)

Are you setting the camera for any digital zoom?
(DON'T use any digital zoom or atleast try it without it)

Are you setting the camera for optical zoom?
(TRY using it to limit the area)

Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, i was just going to ask you what do you know about the Canon Powershot A590? I have been lookimng at it, and can't find out id it is good for macro shots. It has 8MP, and 4Xoptical zoom.
I have no idea what my camera has. It is the Photocam plus. I got it from AOL shop on line, about thre years ago, for $200.00. the other one is Evision Megap[ro. It is 2 MP capable. It takes movie, (video clips, for home inventory, etc). Same place, same price, and Largan Chameleon camera, both digital, and video. I have used it most of all. And I thinkit has developed a problem. I may check it out on 98SE, to see if it is the XP. It ios not compatible with XP, in fact none of them are. I have learned what little I know, of photography, and cameras, since joining the forum. that is one of the reasons I have trouble with phottoshop,/ I know nothing of it, but "balls to the wal", and learn it, one way, or another. It is not easy! Too many words I have never heard of, before!
Dick

Dick · Expert Member

ED, another thing, I have a cam-corder that has 29X optical zoom, and I don't recall if it can also make a snapshot. I mention it, because I used another camcorder for a long time, looking for RPM's, and Die dents, before joining CC. I didn't have a scope, so I omprovised, with a zoom lens drom a color camera, (Mabnavox, part of a portable system with the VCR, camera, and battery pack, as well as a 12V supply. That is all stashed, since I got the scope, and joined the forum. I have been trying to learn about a ton of things, since. Some has actually soaked in, but a whole lot more has NOT!
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

Dick,

I don't know about any of those.

Anything about 5MP+ should be ok.
Even a cheap one should work.

Just be sure you aren't using yours in video mode or something, that lowers the resolution.

Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, there is no chance of that. There are no adjustments on the camera. Just the CD, with the software, and drivers, and the cables to the computer, and TV, (in some cases).
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

If it's connected as video to a TV then isn't it in video mode?

Video modes are always set to low resolution, if the pic is a captured screen shot then it would be low resolution and look grainy.

Maybe the trick is you need that video mode to see what you're looking at but then once it's set up there would need to be a way to take a normal pic.

Just ideas Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, You got me there. Maybe this will help: I use the Photosuite III SE. It is by Paperport. It is the camera application. It gives me a visual picture of the connection, and the pictures in the camera. I can select one, or all, and transfer it/them to the application, or to \C:\My documents\digital camera\images. I can take a snapshot, and work with, or without the Video being sent to the TV, (or computer, or both). The image on the computer display is the same clarity as the TV screen. This can also be sent to Photoshop, or any other place. The camera takes all pictures thru the eye-piece of thr scope. It has the zoom, (optical) from .6-4.7.
Does this help your questions? The camera has serial cable to the computer. It has a wall power cable. It also has a USB cable to use with Windows 98, and the viseo cable to a VCR?TV, ot another computer.
Dick